Inflatable belt



T. J. McNEARY. INFLATABLE BELT. APPLICATION FILED JULY 23, 1920.

A TTORNE Y.

Patented Feb. 15, 1921.

THOMAS J. MGNEARY, or new YORK, n. Y.

INFLATABLE BELT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 23, 1920. Serial-N0. 398,340.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, THOMAS J. MONEARY, acitizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of NewYork and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements inInflatable Belts, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention has for its object the provision of an exceedinglylight, durable and eflicient inflatable belt which may be worn for lifesaving and other purposes.

To the attainment of the foregoing the invention consists in theimprovement as hereinafter described and definitely claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, hereby made a part hereof Figure 1 is abroken view showing one side .of my novel belt. a

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the opposite side of the belt.

Fig. 3 is a detail section illustrative of the relative arrangement ofthe fabric forming the body of the belt and one of the covering strips.

Fig. 4t is an enlarged detail section showing the metallic tube insideofthe flexible inflation tube for reinforcing the connection of thenon-return valve complementary to the inflation tube.

Fig. 5 is a transverse section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all ofthe views of the drawings.

The body 1 of my novel belt is formed of textile material of a characteradapted to hold air under pressure, and in the formation of the body asingle piece of textile material is folded upon itself and its lappedportions 2 are joined through the medium of the longitudinal line ofstitches 8. Over the said line of stitches 3 and the longitudinal lappedportions 2 is arranged a reinforcing strip 4 of similar textile materialto the body 1. The said strip 4: is connected to the body 1 through themedium of rubber or other appropriate cement 5 and it will be noticed inthis connection that the said cement 5 will by occupying the needleholes in the fabric effectively preclude the leakage of air. The endportions of the body 1 are closed by transverse lines of stitches 6 andover the said transverse lines of stitches 6 are arranged transversestrips 7 similar to the mentioned strip 4: and similarly connected tothe fabric of the body 1 and for the purposes before mentioned.

Connected to and extending beyond the end of the body 1 are tabs 8through the medium of which the body 1 may be tied about the body.

In the body 1 at one end thereof and adjacent to one edge is a metallictube 9 which is secured by adhesive or other suitable means in the bight10 formed by folding the body on itself. Connected to the said tube 9 isa flexible tube 11 of length sufficientto reach to the wearers mouthwhen the belt is on the body, and in the outer portion of the saidflexible tube 11 is arranged a tube 12. This latter tube is knurled orotherwise roughened'exteriorly, and is vulcanized in the tube 11 whichis preferably of rubber, and in said connection it will be apparent thatthe disposition of the rubber in the in terstices between the raisedroughened portions will lend strength to the connection of the tube 12in and to the tube 11. The tube 12 is equipped with a non-return valve13, and said valve 13 may be of any construction adapted for use in myimprovement.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the disposition of thenon-return valve of the metallic tube 12 renders the valve installationexceedingly strong and durable.

It will also be apparent that as a whole my novel belt is inexpensive,light in weight, and is adapted to be worn comfortably in an inflatedstate as well as in a deflated state.

While my novel belt is designed'more particularly for use as a entirelywithin the purview of my invention for the belt to be used as a cushionby travelers or by those who are bedridden.

In practice my novel belt may be worn in an inflated or may be worn in adeflated state and inflated when emergency arises. Having described myinvention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is

1. An inflatable belt comprising a body Patented Feb. 15, 1921.

life saving belt, it is formed of textile material of a character to 2.In an inflatable belt, the combination of a body, 'fastening tabs at theends of said body 5 folded upon itself and being longitudinal andtransverse li strips of the same material a means to inflate said body,and

the body the being formed of textile material provided with nes ofstitches, s the body arranged over the longitudinal and transverse linesof stitches, and rubber cement interposed between the body and thestrips and filling the needle holes.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature. e n THOMAS J. MoNEARY.

